All Chicago Must-See sights!

There must be good reasons why about 50 million visitors visit Chicago annually.

Here are our reasons – 10 Must-See attractions we will see on this 1 day Chicago tour.

Navy Pier

Chicago Shakespeare Theater

Lake Point Tower

John Hancock Center

Marina City

Aon Center

Millennium Park

The Art Institute of Chicago

Willis Tower

Museum Campus

*The itinerary depends on how many stops you want to make during the tour, and may be revised.

*The tour can be modified to meet your preferences.

Highlights:

Private Chicago tour with a friendly local guide;

Learn why this place is another financial center of the USA;

Explore the fun part at the Pier;

Get ready for the best art experience in your life;

Discover the criminal part of the city;

Wander in Chicago’s huge parks, where you can get lost or just relax, whatever you prefer;

Check out the tallest glassy observation platform in the World;

Experience the postcard landscapes;

Get to see the craziest architecture in America.

Tour Itinerary:

Navy Pier

Main touristic spot of Chicago. Navy Pier waves a magic wand at every corner: a Ferris wheel, carousels, Children’s Museum with Dinosaurs, Art Gallery, workshops and inventive laboratories. It’s been the most attractive destination for Chicago visitors this century. Every year thousands of people come to rave. Throw yourself off sky and water performances, buy souvenirs in local stores, have fun in open-air night clubs, take part in water racing, have an air balloon trip, relax on a ferry cruise or get crazy at a party on a yacht.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater

If you believe in numbers, the Chicago Shakespeare Theater is your place. This 7-story, 75000 sq m (810,000 sq ft) theater has 77 Joseph Jefferson awards. With 650 performances a year, this theater is as dynamic as you can imagine.

Lake Point Tower

Opened in 1968, this tower is 196 m high (645 ft) and was the tallest residential building in the world at that time! The construction has its own playground, waterfall, pond, parking lot, dry cleaning and a big range of restaurants and shops. It became a home for a lot of movies such as “Meet the Parents” and “Straight Talk”.

Among the residents of this 70-story condominium are Goldie Hawn, Kurt Russell, Mickey Rooney and Alice Cooper.

John Hancock Center

Want to feel like a hero?

Brace yourself for this 100-story skyscraper! At a height of 344 m (1,127 ft), it’s 7th highest building in the USA and 37th in the World.

It was built in honor of John Hancock, a statesman and a hero of independence struggle. It has a shape of a quadratic column and famous for the show “Life after People” and the third part of the movie “Poltergeist”.

The high-speed elevators take you to The Observatory 360 Chicago on the 94th floor with breathtaking views of Lake Michigan and the City. You want something more than a city? Easy! The views cover the distance of 130 km (80 miles) and you can see four states!

Marina City

If you want to see one more city within Chicago territory – welcome to Marina City!

Corn-looking 36-million-dollar construction with elevators traveling from the lower-level lobby to the 61st-floor roof decks in less than 36 seconds. The buildings occupies the whole block and is equipped with 19-story spiral parking, swimming pool, skating rink, gym, theater, bowling, shops, restaurants, a marina and, of course, a 360-degree open-air roof deck lies on top story. Marina City is also home to the House of Blues concert hall, upscale bowling lounge and Hotel Chicago.

Fancy? Want to stay?

Right behind this construction there is a block with jazz clubs and cafes, just the right place we can stay for a cup of coffee and feel like royalty.

Rated as one of the most vibrant areas in Chicago, according to TripAdvisor.

Aon

Known as Chicagoland, Aon Center is the third tallest building in Chicago.

Wildberry Pancakes Café

Millennium Park

If life begins at the end of your comfort zone, then this place is certainly not the one for beginning your life.

Chicago’s Oasis. Natural retreat. The place for Chicago's annual Christmas tree lighting and mecca for public art. Arguably the most important project of Chicago in the 20th century.

The cost of the project planning and its construction reached 475 million dollars. What’s so special about it? Let’s see: the open-air theater Jay Pritzker Pavilion, the bean-shaped Cloud Gate on an AT&T Plaza, singing Crown Fountain, Lurie Garden, pedestrian bridge The Nichols Bridgeway, Boing Gallery, a modern art exhibition sponsored by the President…

This Park is a city in a city, which may keep you busy for the whole millennium.

The Art Institute of Chicago

Best Art Museum in Chicago, according to us. (And by the way, #1 thing to do in Chicago, according to TripAdvisor)

It is one of the most impressive spots for art lovers. The Museum represents not only the collection of impressionists and postimpressionists, but also showpieces of history of human culture, exhibits of the culture of Ancient Egypt and Greece, as well as Japan, China, India and some of the African ethnicities.

Here’s some basic math: AIG has over 300,000 works, we have about 30 minutes. No rush. Encyclopedia of art in half an hour? No big deal!

Willis Tower

In the city of skyscrapers, you’re spoilt for choice.

Dramatic views of Chicago will be burnt into your memory after Skydeck in Willis Tower. What is Willis Tower?

108-stories. 442 m (1451 ft) high. The second-tallest building in the United States and the 13th-tallest in the world. Should we mention it is the tallest skyscraper in Chicago? Well, we just did.

Picture-perfect city views are waiting for you on the 103rd floor. It’s time to test your nerves. 60 seconds and you are 412 meters (1353 ft) above the ground. Not too bad, huh?

The legendary Skydeck features super-strong glassy balconies which will make it an unforgettable experience for you. Unforgettable.

Museum Campus

Lavishly landscaped with flora, this 57-acre (23 ha) park is a scenic promenade and is famous for the Chicago’s top attractions, including Adler Planetarium (America’s first planetarium), John G. Shedd Aquarium representing more than 25 thousand fish specimen and the Field Museum of Natural History with extensive collection in anthropology and ethnology.

The Museum Campus will be extended with the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, at a cost of about 1 billion dollars. OMG.

Don’t miss this historical moment!

* The itinerary is subject to change

Info

Extra costs (per person):

Entrance fees

Lunch/Dinner

Activity Level:

moderate

Maximum travelers:

5

Meet up & End location:

lobby of your hotel

Start time:

any time

Extra hours:

If you are having a good time and want your Chicago tour last a little bit longer, you are welcome to do that. Please note: You will be charged 25 USD per an extra hour.

Tipping suggestions:

If you feel like you had a good experience, your guide would appreciate a tip. It's not mandatory. It's your decision whether you want to give your guide a tip.

What you get:

+ A friend in Chicago.

+ Private & customized tour.

+ An exciting pastime, not just boring history lessons.

+ An authentic experience of local life.

+ Flexibility during the tour: changes can be made at any time to suit individual preferences.

+ Amazing deals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the very best cafes & restaurants.

+ A photo session amongst spectacular Chicago scenery that can be treasured for a lifetime.

+ An expert advice on what to do, where to go, and how to make the most of your time.

*This one day Chicago tour can be modified to meet your preferences.

You are booking

$237 — 7 hours

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Reviews

Video reviews

Such an amazing city. The Millennium Park was the first place my private guide took me to in the city and it has captured my heart. I loved the place. The guide provided me with the bottle of water and a hat, as it was very sunny outside, and shared some fun stories with me about Chicago and its people. All in all, I had a great time. My guide definitely made this visit the one to remember forever.

Luke Stewart, UK, Apr 29, 2016

The tour was very well organized, and though it was just a day in Chicago, we didnít rush and had enough time to take pictures. Our friendly local guide taught us new things about the architecture, history and night life in this bustling city and we even had a chance to visit the criminal part of Chicago. Many thanks to our guide.

Sebastian Richter, Germany, Apr 29, 2016

We extremely enjoyed our day in Chicago with our private guide. Though we were a bit jet leg, we still enjoyed the tour, especially because our guide was so helpful and supportive. He also answered more than a thousand of questions we had about the city and gave us nice postcards to take back home as a souvenir. We highly recommend One day tour in Chicago.

Dominika, Poland, Apr 29, 2016

I had my own local tour, my own local guide and my own local experience. It couldnít have been any better. I was the first timer in Chicago and I am sure Iíll keep great memories about this day I spent there. Thanks to my local guide and this tour for introducing the city to me in such a proper way! Iíll definitely recommend it to my friends.